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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

A Few Harrowing Days (Medical Update - Sort of....)

Sunday Morning:
  1. Hadassah Ein Kerem:  Radiation
  2. Sha'are Zedek:  Chemo (Doxil & Denosumab)
    1. Doxil got canceled because it does bad things when combined with radiation. 
    2. Denosunab (bone drug) got canceled because my Calcium was too low.
    3. My platelets, hemoglobin, and various other things were also too low, so I needed two units of blood, BUT but it was too late and I would have to return tomorrow.
  3. Home: Canceled swimming lessons for the next day & Went to Sleep.

Sunday Evening: 
  1. Home:  My left foot ballooned up to 2-3 x the regular size; I could barely walk.
    1. My GP, concerned that thrombosis caused the swelling, sent me to the ER.
  2. Sha'are Zedek:  Ultrasound ruled out thrombosis. 
    1. Option: Spend night at hospital and receive two units of blood while sleeping (or go home and receive blood in the morning). Tired of running to and from the hospitals, the idea of killing two birds with one stone (i.e. getting the blood while I slept) appealed to me.  However, I would only stay if Moshe agreed to go home, to be with the kids in the morning and reassure them that everything was okay. After a bit of persuasion, Moshe agreed. I was so tired,  I slept quite soundly, despite all the beeping and buzzing.

Monday Morning:
  1. Sha'are Zedek:
    1. Woke up to discover I only received one unit of blood during the night.
    2. Received the second unit of blood.
    3. Ate three bowls of farina (solet, milk and sugar) -- I was hungry!
    4. A friend (SS) came to keep me company and, when I finished, to take me to radiation.
  2. Hadassah Ein Kerem: Radiation
  3. Home: Slept/Rested.

Tuesday Morning:
  1. Sha'are Zedek:
    1. Met with Oncologist, to discuss my liver.
    2. Did a Liver Scan (no results yet)
  2. Hadassah Ein Kerem:  Radiation.
  3. Home: Rest

Wednesday Morning:
  1. Hadassah Ein Kerem:  Radiation.
  2. Home: Rest.

General Info:
  1. Lip still numb
  2. Rt. Foot still swollen and sore
  3. Still Balding from radiation.
  4. Hands and Feet still red and peeling
  5. Still bruise fast and heal slowly.
  6. Still have severe back pain.
  7. Still have hip pain and muscular pain.
  8. Still have issues with constipation and stomach cramps
  9. Still have low appetite and nausea
  10. Still feel tired and weak.

Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

17 comments:

adena said...

So sorry to hear about all this! Sending a deep breath all the way to Israel...

Gila said...

Glad to see you ate something in there!

Sounds like you are having a hellish week....am really sorry. Anything I can do to help?

mikimi said...

well when you ever make it up to Tzfat, I usually have B&J Coffee ice cream and Reeses PB cups on hand if that bribes you to come after your treatments finish and you recuperate.

Sarah said...

Sending positive thoughts your way.

>--:-)--<

(hug)

rickismom said...

WOW! Hope you will feel better soon.....

Anonymous said...

You know, being a vampire is very "in" these days...
ABH

Karen said...

One question -- you still list low appetite (and I know it's been a problem for a while). And yet you ate 3 bowls of cereal while in the hospital. Now it might be a coincidence -- but could there be something about that situation that made you so hungry? The blood transfusion? Did they give you anything to help you sleep? Or maybe the sleep made you hungry? When I'm exhausted I can never eat, I just want to sleep.

Please think it through because whatever made you so hungry, obviously you should do it every day. And if it's Shaarei Tzedek's food, or being in a different place -- hey, you have to do what you have to do. You have to eat, somehow. I'm heavier than you and I'm jealous. :)

To all of RivkA's fans, I know she has cancer and it's not a diet plan. I know she has to keep up her strength. But we've had some discussions about weight etc and I think I can make that comment without being attacked by cancer survivors I don't even know. RivkA, if I was out of line, smack me, OK? (But then you don't get your chocolate. :)

Bernie said...

So sorry you are going through so much right now, keeping you in my heart and prayers......:-) Hugs

Anonymous said...

RivkA - So sorry that you aren't feeling well. Sending you lots of positive healing energy and love. You are a hero (heroine?)!

Mrs. Who said...

RivkA - Sending prayers up for you...

Batya said...

and you still manage to blog...

Refuah shleimah!

sarah said...

I keep checking to see how things are going now after this crazy and difficult week. Looking forward to when you can rest with your laptop and write to us how things are going. Thinking and praying for you all the time. I wish I could come and whip up dinner for your family. If I could, I would. And I'd make you farina for breakfast in containers in the freezer that you could just pop into the microwave in the mornings. Anyone near you who could do that? And, I also have the experience-- why is hospital farina comfort foo? So odd. I only like it when I'm hospitalized. I make it for myself at home, and it doesn't do it for me. Hmph.

Anonymous said...

I think we are all going out of our mind with worry. I hope Moshe has the password or he or a family friend can give us an update here in comments. I do not know if RivkA is aware of her effect on people all over the world. I am a "lapsed" Jew who lost her mother to cancer and I am drawn to this blog every day, wondering how RivkA can keep her strong faith and still believe in God after all that she has been through. I keep asking myself Why? Why my mother? Why RivkA? Such good and kind people. I try and learn from her...there's so much I want to know and whether she realizes it or not, she is having a strong effect on me and I am ready to go back to synagogue and give it another chance. I hope she reads this and realizes how her blog has changed me...and that I do not come here to read or learn about cancer, I come here to learn about hope and faith and she has touched something deep inside me that I thought died many years ago along with my mother.

Anonymous said...

I thought I would let people know that Rivka's internet isn't working right now.
So, don't worry based on her not blogging. Keep up the good thoughts and prayers.
ABH

Anonymous said...

I'm also filled with worry. Could someone close, just update us?

orieyenta said...

Thank you ABH for updating us and easing our worry. Sending many prayers and happy, healing thoughts Rivka's way.

Ye'he Sh'mey Raba Mevorach said...

Dear friends of RivkA,
I wish I had good news to report, but RivkA is in the hospital. I don't have more information than that. I haven't been able to visit because I have a cold and "they" won't let me on the ward.

Keep praying and thinking happy, healing thoughts!!!!